The quirky condo reno

Whether it’s a total makeover or a touch-up, condominium renos are a breed apart. “New condos are desirable because they’re shiny and new with high-end finishes and modern accents, but the great thing about older condo buildings are the huge unit sizes,” says Joy Paterson of CondoChicks.com and sales representative with Cityscape Real Estate.

Sprucing up an older condo follows the same logic as a house renovation. “Next to a fresh coat of paint, kitchens and baths are often the first to be updated or renovated, and those are the areas that usually add most value to a property,” Ms. Paterson says.

But that’s where the differences between domiciles start.

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So when Geno Scopelleti of Toronto-based Carick Home Improvements was asked to transform a worn penthouse into a revitalized, functional space he jumped at the chance. The client had just purchased a penthouse condo in a 20-year-old building, Mr. Scopelleti says.

“She wanted to make this space unique and not like your cookie-cutter condominium unit,” he says. “The client’s budget was $60,000, and she carefully selected materials to stay within that range.”

Mr. Scopelleti enjoys working on condos. “Condo units with original or outdated finishes in older buildings still have loads of potential, and a remodel can be a practical way of quickly unleashing a property’s value,” he says. “But by their physical nature, condo renos are in a whole different league than houses.”

Though condo renos are a thriving part of his family-owned contracting business, Mr. Scopelleti points out these projects pose hurdles.

Firstly, before any alterations are made to their units, condominium owners must get permission from the condo board. In addition, they must comply with the City’s construction by-laws. Permission has to be granted for even seemingly simple changes, Mr. Scopelleti notes. “It may be as basic as the type of flooring. Some condo boards won’t allow hardwood or tile unless it’s soundproofed. The person living below will want a say in what you’re planning.”

If any structural work is required, the contractor must get all the paperwork in order, including permits for electrical, plumbing and gas and sprinklers.

This is where it can get tricky for a contractor, Mr. Scopelleti says. “We can’t change where windows are placed, plumbing can’t be moved and removing walls may not be an option. A client’s wish list has to be tweaked to the reality.”

Despite such obstacles, it is possible to deliver the dream through planning. Organization was key for the aforementioned client’s 1,800-square-foot penthouse, which took 12 weeks to finish. The custom cabinetry, tiles and flooring had to be ready for installation within the project’s tight time line. The building’s service elevator had to be booked early on to transport the tradesmen and materials, as well as stocking the lighting, electrical and plumbing supplies (much different from simply walking into a house).

The Carick design team also had to contend with a narrow space. The solution was a French country-style galley kitchen, which looks smart thanks to high-contrast engineered hardwood floors. “It gives a warm feel to the condo,” Mr. Scopelleti says.

In terms of lighting, the team removed a dated fixture hanging by an exposed wire over the kitchen. “Our client wished to improve the lighting and distribute it evenly, so the solution was to drop the ceiling six inches [due to the concrete ceiling] to accommodate the new halogen pot lights,” he explains. “The client wanted this done right and we think the extra time and effort was worth it.”

The client, a genetics lab technician who shares her two-bedroom, two-bath penthouse with a family member, beams proudly at the white floor-to-ceiling cabinets along one of the walls in her kitchen and the bar along another wall. “The look was inspired by kitchen magazines and fond recollections of a kitchen in England where I stayed in the late 1970s while studying there,” she says.

And she went the distance to find the right tiles for her new kitchen. Intent on a backsplash similar to that in her previous house, she found the perfect fit online at a supplier based in New York City called Country Flowers (countryfloors.com).

“I fell in love with these glazed ceramic tiles,” she says. “They brought back memories of a great supper with a super bunch of people enjoying a meal in an old country kitchen and pots of food cooking away on a stove that’s set in an alcove. Simply spectacular.”